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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> GD <br /> KONA.KOHALA 75-5737 Kunidni Hwy, SufEe 2D8 <br /> Kailue Kona, Hi 46740 <br /> wwwkore 33u c= inffoOkone4whabLoom <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> July 18th, 2006 <br /> Honorable Stacy Higa, Chair <br /> Virginia Isbell, Vice Chair <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> County of Hawaii <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> <br /> RE: In consideration of Resolution No. 381-06 <br /> To postpone County Council action on rezoning applications in the districts of <br /> North and South Kona until the North and South Community Development Plan <br /> is adopted by ordinance, or until January 1 st 2007, whichever comes first. <br /> Aloha Mr. Higa and Ms. Isbell, <br /> <br /> The Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce does not favor a moratorium on rezoning <br /> applications and therefore does not support passage of Resolution No. 381-06. <br /> <br /> While the Chamber does support and is an active participant in the current Community <br /> Development Plan process, it recognizes that the Community Develop Plans are just <br /> one facet of the overall, ongoing planning effort for the County of Hawaii. <br /> We do not believe it is in the best interests of the island's economy to bring a halt to <br /> rezoning, or any other planning and execution of such, until the recommendations of just <br /> one aspect of the process are considered. <br /> <br /> The impact a moratorium would have goes far beyond the Kona districts and will likely <br /> have a negative impact on the Islands and the states business climate as a whole. <br /> Additionally, it is most likely to exacerbate an already scarce housing inventory and have <br /> a serious negative effect on the islands workforce pool. <br /> <br /> Opportunities will be lost and we believe the effects of such a moratorium will be long <br /> lasting and far reaching. Zoning change requests have provided for roads, water <br /> systems, school sites, parks, biking and walking paths. This resolution may well stop the <br /> forward momentum to build affordable housing in North and South Kona while driving <br /> already sky rocketing land prices even higher. The goal of placing a substantial <br /> percentage of our workforce, our most valuable asset, closer to their workplace could be <br /> lost indefinitely. <br /> We too have concerns about infrastructure keeping up with the rate of growth in West <br /> Hawaii. However, we believe that in order to ensure that growth is accomplished in <br /> Comm. No. 21• <br /> Ref. To: 1'r u~ <br /> Ref. Date JUL 19 <br />